Diving apparatus



'No. 609,4!8. PatentedAug. 23, I898. J. G. G. DAY.

DIVING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 22, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 23, 1898.

J. ,& 6. DAY. DIVING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 22, 1897.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. "m: NORRIS PEYERS cu mow-Lama, wnswmommu. c.

No. 609,4l8. Patented Aug. 23, I898.

J. &. 6. DAY.

DIVING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 22, 1897.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' EEC JOHN-DAY AND GEORGE DAY, OF M s'rEG, ENGLAND.

DIVING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,418, dated August23, I898. Application filed December 22, 1897. Serial No. 662,974. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN DAY and GEORGE DAY, subjects of the Queen ofGreat Britain and Ireland, and residents of Maesteg, Glamorgan county,England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DivingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved divin g apparatus which consistsof an inner noncollapsible jointed suit of improved construction and anouter flexible covering which serves to protect the suit-joints; and itmay consist of an entire dress inflated with air, or of joint-coveringscharged with suitable lubricant, or of an inflated body-dress, and leg,or leg and arm joint coverings charged with lubricant.

The invention has special reference to the joints of the suit, with theobject of minimizing the friction and facilitatingthe'movement thereofand obtaining a reliable water-tight joint, and to means of mechanicallygrasping objects under water.

On the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation, partly insection, of the improved apparatus. Fig. 1 is a continuation downward ofFig. 1. Fig. 2 representsa side elevation, partly in section and withthe neararm casing removed. Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section,and Fig. 4 is an under View, of one of the suit-joints on an enlargedscale. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig. 4.; and Fig. 6 is avertical section of the means for grasping objects under water. Fig. 7is a side view, partly in section, of a foot.

The non-collapsible suit is formed of metal,

with a helmet A, a casing 13 for the upper part of the body, projectingshould er and arm casings F, secured to the casing B, forearmcasings E,elbow-jointed to the casings F and adapted for use with dependinghand-actuated mechanical gripping devices, a casing O for the abdominalpart ofthe body jointed to the casing B, and sectional leg and footcasings D, hip-jointed to the casing O, and also knee and ankle jointedtogether.

The outer flexible coveringL, serving to protect the suit-joints, may beformedofany suitable waterproof material andrnay be adapted to envelopthe suit fromthehelinetneck (see dotted lines in Figsql and?) and may belashed around or otherwise suitably fastened in a water-tight mannertothe shit at the neck, wrists, and ankles, or elsewhere, as required, orit may consist of sectional coverings adapted to each respective joint(see Fig.3) or of an inflated body-dress and sectional coverings for theleg'or leg and arm joints.

The special purpose of the covering or coverings L is to insure freedomof movement to the suit-joints by preventing access thereto of Water,sand, and other foreign matter, and this end it attains, if entire or abody-dress, by being inflated with air at a pressure about that of theWater in which the apparatus will be used and, if sectional, by beingcharged with suitable lubricant L, which will also facilitate theworking of the joint.

The preferred construction and connection of the parts A, B, andF arerepresented. on the drawings, but are not material to the invention andmay be varied.

. Iindicates the jointing together of the parts B O, O D, F E and thesections of the parts D, and to which the inventionhas specialreference. As all said joints are similar in construction and vary onlyin size and proportion, they will be described with reference to theelbow-joint represented in Figs. 3 to 5. The joint is made with innerand outer spherical or spheroidal parts I I flattened at opposite endsof the lineal axis of movement and formed or adapted with cylindricalbearings V-shaped at the axis ofrotation.

The part I is fitted with a bearing-block 1 which is formed with asectoral upper bearing 1, V-shaped at the axis of rotation, and isfitted witha'sectoral bushing J.

The part I is formed or fitted with a sectoral bearing J, adapted to besupported by and to freely turn in the bushingJ'", and is V-shaped atthe axis of rotation, atwhich it supports the bearing l with freedom ofmove- 95 by a screw-pin J passed through the block I and pressingagainst the bushing J. The opposing faces of the parts I J are shaped toallow of the required movement between the parts I I the extent of whichmovement is determined by stops I fitted to the part I, abutting againstplates 1 fitted to the part 1 The joint parts I l J J 2 are preferablyformed of hardened steel. The block I is formed with an opening 1 whichenables the axial bearings to be readily inspected and is normallyclosed by a screwed or other removable cap K and packing K to preventaccess of foreign matter to the axial bearings. Peripherally the part Iis formed with stuffing-chambers I fitted with inclosing plates 1,serving to prevent access of foreign matter between the parts I I If thejoint is surrounded with a sectional waterproof covering L, charged withlubricant as aforesaid, sufficient slack should be allowed in thecovering material to enable the joint to be freely moved to its fullextent without disturbing the attached parts of the covering.

If the suit be enveloped from the neck downward with an entire or bodycovering L, the latter must also have sufficient slack to permit ofthe'free movements of the suit, and is connected by tubing L with aunion G leading from the air-supply apparatus G, (which may be ofanysuitable nature,) by which the helmet is supplied and is kept chargedwith air at a pressure about that of the water in which the apparatus isto be used.

The excess of vitiated air from the helmet is conveyed to above water bya pipe H.

. In the means of mechanically grasping objects under water (see Fig. 6)the forearmcasing E terminates in a hand-casing E, having a tubularextension 0, ending in a stuifing-box P. Projecting through theextension is a tube N, which within the casing E is fitted with a handleQ, and beyond the extension is formed with a stuffing-box T and isadapted to carry a pair of opposing grips M, pivoted at M and havinginner projecting spurs W. Within the tube N is a rod T, which within thecasing E is fitted with a handle Z and is screw-threaded and fitted witha wing-nut X, and beyond the stuffingbox T is formed with a head U,having notches V, adapted to engage with the gripspurs W. A spring Y isinterposed between the handles Q Z, tending to separate the same and toopen the grips M. The rod T can be.

reciprocated within the tube N to an extent determined by the engagementof projections Z on the handle end Z with slots Q in the handle end Q,which projections also prevent the rod T from turning Within the tube N.The tube N, rod T, and jaws M can be turned around or rotated about theaxis of the rod T by turning the handles Q Z, and can be arrested in anydesired position by a springcatch R, adapted to engage with holes S in aledge projecting within the casing E. The grips M can be opened andclosed by manipulating the handle Z and can be forcibly brought togetherby turning the nut X down the screwed portion of the rod T.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. The combination of an inner water-tight non-collapsible jointed metaldiving-suit, an

outer flexible waterproof covering or coverings secured water-tight tothe suit and serving to protect the suit-joints from the access ofwater, sand, and other foreign matter and to permit of their freedom ofmovement, as set forth.

2. In diving apparatus, in combination, an inner non-collapsiblemetal-jointed divingsuit and outer flexible waterproof covering securedwater-tight to the suit, covering one or more joints of the suit,lubricating material within said covering for said joints, the coveringand lubricant serving to protect the suit-joints from the access ofwater, sand and other foreign matter and to permit of their freedom ofmovement, as set forth.

3. In joints for connecting the relativelymovable parts of divingapparatus, in combination, inner and outer jointed spherical orspheroidal parts (as I, 1 peripherally packed and having trunnion-bearings concentric with the axis of movement and V-shaped at the axis ofrotation, the opposing faces of the axial bearings being shaped to allowof the required movements of the joint parts, and the peripheral partsbeing adapted with stops to determine the extent of movement, as setforth.

4. In joints for connecting the relativelymovable parts of divingapparatus, in combination, inner and outer jointed spherical orspheroidal parts (as I, 1 peripherally packed and havingtrunnion-bearings concentric with the axis of movement and \I-shaped atthe axis of rotation, the opposing faces of the axial bearings beingshaped to allow of the required movements of the joint parts, and theperipheral parts being adapted with stops to determine the extent ofmovement, and an outer flexible and waterproof covering charged withlubricant. and secured watertight about the upper and lower parts of thejoint, as set forth.

5. In joints for connecting the relativelymovable parts of divingapparatus, in combination, trunnion-bearings respectively applied tosaid parts concentric with the axis of movement and \I-shaped at theaxis of rotation of said parts, the opposing faces of the axial bearingsbeing shaped to allow of the required movements of the joint parts, asset forth.

6. In combination with a diving apparatus,

IIO

morganshire, Wales, this 7th day of December, 1897.

JOHN DAY. Witnesses:

JOHN AUGUST DAY, DAVID ILIAD EWIL. Signed by me, GEORGE DAY, at London,England, this 8th day of December,1897.

GEORGE DAY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES AUBREY DAY, ALFRED CHARLES DAY.

